Vol. 790 No. 2
1. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the meetings he has held with the British ambassador and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the decade of commemorations in view of the outbreak of violence over the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4589/13]
Meetings with the ministerial team at the Northern Ireland Office, NIO, and the British ambassador in Dublin occur regularly in the context of the centenary commemorative programme and other areas of common and shared interest.
Most recently, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, visited the Houses of Parliament at Westminster on 16 January for a commemoration co-hosted with the Northern Ireland Office Minister, Mike Penning, MP, on the centenary of the second reading in the House of Commons of the Third Home Rule Bill. The Minister welcomed this opportunity to discuss the continuing development of the commemorative programme with the Minister and, subsequently, with several British and Irish current and former Members of Parliament.
That afternoon, at the Embassy of Ireland, the Minister met the Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr. Andrew Murrison, MP, and several of the organisations and institutions involved in the preparation of the British commemorative programme for the centenary of the First World War.
During 2012, the Minister was pleased, on behalf of the Government, to lead on and participate in a very significant decade of centenaries programme. Some of the highlights included the NIO exhibition panels on the Third Home Rule Bill, displayed at Westminster in February and thereafter in the Oireachtas and the National Library of Ireland; a conference on the Ulster Covenant organised by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at Belfast City Hall, which the Minister addressed; memorial lectures on the work of John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party presented in association with Waterford City Council; the Carson memorial lecture in Dublin by the Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, on reflections on Irish Unionism; a major exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery related to the Third Home Rule Bill, which the Minister opened; supplements in The Irish Times, supported by my Department and circulated to all primary and post-primary schools; and the display of exhibition panels at Waterford Museum of Treasures on Redmond and the Home Rule movement.
There was also ongoing engagement with the all-party Oireachtas group on commemorations, as well as continued engagement with the Manning committee. In addition, preparations for the decade of commemorations website are advancing and the Minister will launch this formally in the coming weeks.
The Minister appreciates very much the support and association of the British Ministers and the ambassador with our commemorative programme for the decade of centenaries. The events of the years 1912 to 1922 are the shared heritage of both the British and the Irish. The contribution of each is very valuable as we seek to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive commemorative framework that will enhance the understanding of these tumultuous years.
The issues relating to the flying of the flag at Belfast City Hall have not featured directly in the Minister's formal discussions and exchanges with Ministers, public representatives and others in recent times. However, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade discussed the recent flag protests on 17 January with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and reviewed developments towards calming the situation. The two Governments reaffirmed their commitment to support the efforts of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to resolve the current crisis and work closely together to identify ways to address not just the current crisis but its underlying causes.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as teacht isteach chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt. We are looking beyond what we hope will be the very successful events of The Gathering in 2013 to the next series of events of the decade of commemorations that will register with the public and the international community in a positive way. However, the past two months of unrest in Belfast and across the North have been a depressing and a timely reminder of the need for the Irish and British Governments to continue to engage actively in developing the peace process. The problem in the North is a wider failure of politics. For the public, if normal democratic politics is not about the economy and improving people’s standards of life, it becomes about issues such as flags, parades and divisions. Accordingly, the commemorations ahead have the potential to stir up violent reactions. There is a need for constant engagement between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, and the Minister to ensure a positive outcome for this commemoration process, one to which we are strongly committed. It also requires cross-parliamentary engagement between North and South. Will the Minister assure us that this will be the sort of serious level of engagement we will see between now and the launch of the decade of commemorations?
I am honoured to be vice chairman of the commemorations committee. It is encouraging to see it is so exclusive and that it has respect for every aspect of Irish political thinking which will be commemorated in the coming decade. The Minister has been very busy attending events in Northern Ireland and the UK, as I have myself and Deputy Ó Cuív, when he was on this side of the House. His name is still a byword in places in Northern Ireland which would surprise many. I am a regular visitor to the North and attended commemorations of the Battle of the Somme over the past several years. It is all about bringing people together. The peace process is a continuing process and all of these matters contribute to it.
Our concern is to ensure nothing happens that develops as a lightning rod to further conflict. Will the Minister establish a cross-Border commemorative body to ensure there is ongoing dialogue at a level that is necessary to avoid conflict? What specific plans has the Minister in place to support and create bridge-building between the communities both North and South and in the North?
Many different shades of political opinion from Northern Ireland have already attended the Oireachtas commemoration committee. I am a regular visitor there. Last Saturday I was in Derry commemorating Burns Night. I have been to Belfast City Hall to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. In Donegal we have the Monreagh centre which celebrates Scottish-Irish culture. We intend to continue this cross-Border association for the coming year and for the decade of commemorations.
2. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will clarify the position in relation to funding the air service to the Aran Islands in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4671/13]
The four year public service obligation contract for the Aran Islands air service will end on 31 August 2013. In addition, the related aerodrome management service contract will end on the same date. These contracts cost in the region of €2 million per annum and this equates to approximately one third of my Department's overall budget for island transport services.
My Department is examining various options with regard to these services. One option is to extend the existing contracts. I hope that I will be in a position to announce the decision on the matter by the end of February at the latest.
Ultimately, any decision on the future of the air service will be made in the context of the overall budget available for island transport services. I announced in the House in December last that there would be an allocation of €5.9 million for current expenditure on the islands for 2013. Naturally, this figure is subject to the Revised Estimates being published and approved in due course.
This is an important issue and one of substantial concern for the people of the Aran Islands, as the Minister of State is aware. Clearly any decision to diminish the funding available for this service would be damaging. The failure to sustain this service at its current levels would be threatening to the future of the island. If the service is stopped it will put significant pressure on business, employment and tourism. The air service provides 40 jobs to a rural economy without many job opportunities. If these jobs were to go, people would leave the islands because they could not provide for their families.
The 40,000 tourists or thereabouts who travel with Aer Arann also provide money to the local economy, thus providing more jobs. The air service also provides essential services such as those offered by An Post and Bank of Ireland. Local companies use the air service as well. Any diminution would have an effect on the availability of health and education services and could increase isolation and put many people into difficult circumstances. The Minister of State will appreciate that it is difficult for the elderly or infirm to travel by sea when the weather is poor.
What dealings has the Minister of State undertaken with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard? Has he met the Minister recently and, if so, what was the outcome? Will the Minister of State confirm that there will continue to be an Aer Arann service?
I am conscious of the importance of the services we provide for the Aran Islands, whether it is for the air, cargo or passenger, as I am aware of the importance of these services to all our islands. More than 20 islands avail of these services, which are being subsidised by my Department. The question relates specifically to the Aran Islands and the air services there. I have been there on several occasions. I met several Aran islanders and as recently as last Friday senior officials from my Department held a meeting with the Aran islanders during which they held further discussions on these matters. We are absolutely aware of the importance and this is one of the reasons we have endeavoured to maintain current expenditure for the current year at last year's level and to provide these services to the islands in the amount of €5.9 million. That is an indication of how seriously we take this responsibility.
Options are being considered at the moment. We are operating under a public service obligation and European regulations must be adhered to as well. We are not martyrs about it but there are European regulations and parameters within which we must work. Anyway, we are considering extending the current arrangement. Negotiations are ongoing between the various parties. As I noted in my answer, I hope to be in a position to come up with a suitable solution by the end of February.
The service should continue in the long term and the Minister of State should seek to remove any doubts or fears about its future. It is crucial that the service continues long term. The Minister of State should seek to remove any doubts or fears about the future of the services at this point.
I agree absolutely that these services have been in in operation in the Aran Islands for more than 20 years. My objective is to keep as many of these services going as possible. I put it to the Deputy that with regard to air services all the options are being examined at the moment and I hope to be in a position to make a definitive decision by the end of next month. I understand the issues having been to the islands and discussed them with the islanders and having seen the reports from my senior officials. The issue is discussed almost on a weekly basis with the concerned parties. We will bear all of this in mind. My real objective is to look after the welfare of the islanders. We are in difficult economic times. We have €5.9 million as we had last year and we will see what we can do. I agree with the sentiment behind the remarks of Deputy McLellan.
3. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 28 November 2012, the cost of each of the various turf compensation schemes from 2000 to 2010 in tabular form. [4592/13]
I apologise to my colleagues for my absence. I have just returned from Dundalk.
Compensation has been paid under several measures by my Department and its predecessors in respect of the protection of raised bog habitat designated as special areas of conservation under the EU habitats directive and as natural heritage areas under the Wildlife Acts.
In 1999, the then Minister confirmed that commercial turf cutting on these protected sites had to cease immediately. Commercial operators compelled to cease turf extraction activities within the designated sites could apply for compensation for the losses they suffered. Compensation was paid in respect of 11 such claims totalling €4.04 million between 2000 and 2010.
It was announced subsequently that domestic cutting could continue under a derogation for a further ten years. This announcement was accompanied by the introduction of a voluntary bog purchase scheme under which domestic turf cutters could sell their plots at agreed rates. Those rates were subsequently increased in 2004 following agreement with the farming organisations under the partnership talks. A total of €23.4 million was paid to 814 applicants under the scheme between 2000 and 2010. In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of the voluntary bog purchase scheme to new applicants. However, my Department is continuing to process applications in respect of special areas of conservation received before that date.
When the end of the derogation for domestic turf cutters was confirmed in May 2010 an interim compensation scheme was established. This provided interim funding to those who had been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999. A total of €171,000 was paid to 171 applicants under the scheme in 2010. The scheme has since been replaced by a 15-year annuity payment of €1,500 per annum, index linked, for those who have been required to cease cutting on special area of conservation raised bogs. As requested by the Deputy, these details are set out in tabular form in the reply.
|
Compensation Scheme |
Number of approved applications |
Expenditure 2000-2010 |
|
Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme |
814 |
€23,439,811 |
|
Commercial Turf Cutters Compensation |
11 |
€4,044,512 |
|
Interim Compensation Scheme |
171 |
€171,000 |
Unfortunately, since Deputy Finian McGrath is not here, under the rules of the House I am obliged to move on to the next question. Deputy Flanagan, do you wish to comment briefly?
Is it agreed that Deputy Flanagan can intervene briefly? Agreed.
There has been some confusion on this question. I believe I was meant to get the priority question, but so be it. It is on the same theme.
The Minister used the term "derogation" and said that the derogation was over, but something cannot be over if it had never started. There was no derogation. The former EU Commission representative, Julian Bruno, said there was none. Who is telling the truth? Was there a derogation or not? As far as we know there was not. The Minister read out the figures for all the compensation paid out. That is fine, but who has received the compensation? Has it been given to active turf cutters?
I am somewhat baffled. I will use an example with which the Minister is familiar. On Moanveanlagh bog in Kerry more people cut turf last year than in the previous year.
The Minister appears to have sanctioned compensation for people. Who is getting it? Is it turf cutters or lapsed turf cutters? I am not complaining about lapsed turf cutters receiving the compensation to which they are entitled. It is their land. It is a bad deal, but it is a personal decision for them. I want to know, however, who is taking up the compensation. My information on the success of the scheme is that no bog has yet been sorted out notwithstanding that we are 15 years along. This is not going as well as the propaganda suggests.
Of the 29 bogs which were cut two years ago, 26 were cut last year. A further three would have been cut were it not for the poor weather conditions. The only way the scheme will work is if people are listened to and trust is established. We will be vindicating our rights again this year. We have no choice.
I was assigned this responsibility two years ago and it has been acknowledged that a great deal of progress has been made in that time. It is a difficult issue. The derogation was announced in 1999 by the then Minister. I did not announce it. It was an initiative of the previous Government, a member of which is in attendance. It is in the past. Any derogation had expired in 33 of the bogs by the time I took over. I must deal with the 53 raised bogs in respect of which there is now no derogation. The national raised bogs plan will commence shortly. It would have commenced last year if people had co-operated with my staff who were out trying to implement the law. Hopefully, the plan will be complete by November, at which time I will present it to the Commissioner. It may be that certain difficult cases can be addressed under the plan. We will not know until matters are concluded.
Of the plots cut last year, 70% were not cut this year. That has been verified by our people on the ground. There were 2,568 applications for compensation received and acknowledged by the Department with 2,142 payments issuing. There were 194 turf deliveries. I note even though it is not directly raised in the question that €3.4 million was paid in compensation in 2012.
4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an aersheirbhís go dtí Oileáin Árann; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4590/13]
Beidh an conradh reatha ceithre bliana chun seirbhís aeir a chur ar fáil d’Oileáin Árann faoi Oibleagáid Seirbhíse Poiblí ag teacht chun deiridh ar 31 Lúnasa 2013. Ina theannta sin, tá conradh eile ag mo Roinn chun bainistiú a dhéanamh ar na haeradróim ar na hoileáin agus tiocfaidh deireadh leis an gconradh sin ar an dáta céanna. Cosnaíonn na seirbhísí sin beagnach €2 milliún ar mo Roinn in aghaidh na bliana. Is ionann é sin agus timpeall an tríú cuid de bhuiséad reatha mo Roinne do na hoileáin ábhartha go léir.
Faoi láthair, tá mo Roinn ag scrúdú na roghanna éagsúla a fheictear di a bheith aici i ndáil leis na seirbhísí seo. I measc na roghanna seo, tá rogha chun síneadh a chur leis na conarthaí atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair. Táim ag súil go mbeidh mé in ann an chinnidh maidir leis seo a fhógairt faoi dheireadh mhí Feabhra ar a dhéanaí.
Ag deireadh an lae, beidh an cinneadh i leith na seirbhíse seo le tógáil i gcomhthéacs an tsoláthair atá ar fáil do mo Roinn le fóirdheontais a thabhairt do sheirbhísí éagsúla iompair do na hoileáin ábhartha go léir. D'fhógair mé sa Teach seo i mí na Nollag 2012 go raibh allúntas de €5.9 milliún i maoiniú reatha ar fáil do na hoileáin in 2013. Ar ndóigh, ní miste a nótáil go bhfuil an figiúr seo faoi réir na Meastachán Athbhreithnithe a bheith foilsithe agus faofa i dtráth cuí.
Is cosúil go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag cur an airgid ann i dtosach agus ag déanamh na gcinntí ina dhiaidh sin. Tá fíor-thábhacht ag baint leis na seirbhísí seo. An aontódh an tAire Stáit go mbraitheann an méid a chaithfidh sé a chaitheamh ar sheirbhísí ar oileáin ar dhaonra na n-oileán agus cé chomh fada amach san fharraige agus atá siad, agus go bhfuil na hoileáin Árann píosa fada amach san fharraige, go mor mhór an dá oileán, Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr? An bhféadfadh an tAire Stáit a rá liom cén costas a bhaineann leis na conarthaí báid ar fad chuig na hoileáin sa bhliain 2013?
Tuigim go bhfuil na hoileáin Árann i bhfad i bhfarraige agus tá a fhios agam go mbíonn an Teachta ann go minic. Bhí mé féin ansin cúpla uair sula gceapadh mar Aire Stáit mé agus is cinnte go raibh mé ar gach oileán acú ón am a ceapadh mé. Aontaím ar fad cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé go gcaithfidh na seirbhísí atá acu a choinneáil oiread agus is féidir. Tá deacrachtaí eacnamaíochta againn agus sin an fáth gur throid muid agus gur éirigh linn an €5.9 milliún céanna a fháil don bhliain reatha agus a bhí againn anuraidh, cé go raibh ciorruithe in go leor rannóga. D’éirigh linn é sin a choinneáil mar táimid ag tabhairt tosaíochta do na hoileáin.
Maidir le hoileáin atá i bhfad i bhfarraige, tá oileáin i mo dháilcheantar féin atá i bhfad i bhfarraige chomh maith, macasamhail Oileán Thoraí, a bhfuil daoine ina gcónaí iontu chomh maith.
Maidir leis an airgead, de ghnáth cosnaíonn an t-aer-sheirbhís agus na rudaí uilig a bhaineann leis sin thart faoi €2 milliún. Anuraidh chosain an chuid eile €1.6 milliún. I mbliana níl an íogair achomair acmhainní againn (&).
Chuir an Teachta ceist faoi chostas farantóireachta chomh maith.
Cad é an costas a bhaineann leis na conarthaí bád atá ag an Roinn go dtí na hoileáin i mbliana?
Thug mé costas don bhliain seo caite.
Bhí na conarthaí sínithe roimh-ré.
Dúirt mé €1.6 milliún.
Bhí na conarthaí bád go dtí na hoileáin ar fad ag an Roinn agus caithfidh go bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire Stáit cé mhéad a chosnóidh sé sin sa bhliain 2013. Cé mhéad atá ann?
Tá a fhios againn cé mhéad a chosain siad anuraidh - €1.6 milliún – agus i mbliana beidh athrú beag agus mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta mar bhí seo sna meáin chumarsáide Gaeilge, cé gur tairgeadh conarthaí d’Inis Mór, an duine atá i bhfeighil na seirbhíse sin, níor chuir sé tairscint chonartha isteach. Mar sin, tá athrú air chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le hInis Mór.
Ceist dheireanach.
Ní bhfuair mé freagra ar an gcéad cheist fós. Na conarthaí atá ag an Roinn le haghaidh bád farantóireachta chuig na hoileáin, cé mhéad a chosnóidh siad i mbliana? Caithfidh go bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire Stáit cé mhéad a chosnóidh sin. Mura bhfuil a fhios aige, an bhfuil sé in ann an t-eolas a chur chugam?
Ní raibh sin sa fhreagra ach cuirfimid an t-eolas ar aghaidh chuig an Teachta chomh luath agus is féidir.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.
5. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin gcónascadh atá beartaithe idir Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus Oifig an Ombudsman; cad iad na himpleachtaí a bheidh ag an gcinneadh sin d'fhostaithe Oifig an Choimisinéara; agus an leagfaidh sé amach na hathruithe atá beartaithe sna míonna atá le teacht de bharr an chinnidh sin. [4821/13]
Is mian liom aird an Teachta a dhíriú ar an bhfreagra a thug me ar Cheist Dála Uimhir 45 ar 28 Samhain 2012 faoin ábhar seo.
Mar a thug mé le fios sa fhreagra sin, tógadh cinneadh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga a chónascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman mar chuid de réimse gníomhartha athchóirithe faoi Phlean Athchóirithe an Rialtais don tSeirbhís Phoiblí a foilsíodh i mí na Samhna 2011. Tar éis don Rialtas athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2012 ar an dul chun cinn faoin bplean, d'aontaigh an Rialtas réimse gníomhartha athchóirithe atá le cur i bhfeidhm. Is iad seo a leanas na gníomhartha atá i gceist maidir le hOifig an Choimisinéara Teanga. Déanfar Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga a chónascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman. Aistreofar cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna reachtúla an Choimisinéara Teanga faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 chuig an Ombudsman agus tarmligfear iad chuig an gCoimisinéir Teanga faoin reachtaíocht leasaithe. Leanfaidh Coimisinéir Teanga, a bheidh ceaptha go reachtúil agus a bheidh lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht, ag feidhmiú cumhachtaí reatha an Choimisinéara Teanga go neamhspleách faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. Tá mo Roinnse i mbun plé leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe maidir leis na céad céimeanna eile chun an cónascadh seo a chur i bhfeidhm. Breathnófar ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le foireann Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga i gcomhthéacs an phlé sin. Mar fhocal scoir, ní miste a rá gur cúis sásaimh domsa é go mbeidh Coimisinéir Teanga atá ceaptha go reachtúil lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht i gcónaí mar thoradh ar chinneadh an Rialtais sa chás seo.
Deputy Tóibín has been delayed. I, therefore, call Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
D'fhág an Teachta Tóibín roinnt ceisteanna a bhí sé ag iarraidh a chur ar an Aire Stáit. Tá roinnt acu freagartha cheana féin, maidir leis an seasamh a bheidh ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga.
An mbeidh an Coimisinéir Teanga neamhspleách ina iomlán. Tá an t-Aire Stáit tar éis a rá go mbeidh sé tofa go reachtúil ach go mbeidh na cumhachtaí ar fad ag an Ombudsman agus go dtabharfar iad don choimisinéir le hobair. An bhfuil an coimisinéir neamhspleách go hiomlán?
Bhí próiseas comhairleacháin le bheith i gceist maidir leis an chónascadh seo. Tá an t-Aire Stáit tar éis roinnt den toradh ar an bpróiseas sin a lua. Beidh ar an dá oifig obair le chéile amach anseo. An bhfuil sé leagtha amach go hiomlán cá bhfuil an fhoireann chun a bheith lonnaithe. Dúirt an t-Aire Stáit go mbeidh an Coimisinéir Teanga thiar sa Ghaeltacht. An mbeidh an fhoireann ar fad lonnaithe ann, nó an mbeidh roinnt acu curtha go Baile Átha Cliath?
Cén fáth nach raibh Emily O'Reilly, an Ombudsman, nó an coimisinéir féin gafa leis an bpróiseas comhairleacháin?
Ciallaíonn an méid adúirt an t-Aire Stáit go mbeidh cónascadh ag tarlú ach go mbeidh an dá oifig neamhspleách. Cad é an buntáiste don Stát nó don dá sheirbhís a thiocfaidh as an gcónascadh? Luaigh na hAirí go mbeidh buntáistí ann ó thaobh chaiteachas airgid de ach ní fheicim aon buntáiste ins an méid atá luaite ag an Aire Stáit go fóill maidir le sábháil airgid nó maidir leis na dualgais atá ann faoi láthair.
Ní sábháilt airgid amháin atá i gceist ar chor ar bith. Dúirt mé, i bhfreagra eile, nach bhfuil an oiread sin sábháil ó thaobh airgid de. Tá €615,000 a chur ar fáil do Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga i mbliana, beagnach mar an gcéana agus a bhí ins na blianta a chuaigh romhainn. Mar is eol don Teachta, tá comhthacú á dhéanamh ar go leor eagraíochtaí. Maidir leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga agus Oifig an Ombudsman, córas riaracháin atá i gceist. Is é sin, go mbeadh sé níos foirfe agus, ag an am céanna, go dtarmligfear cumhachtaí chuig an gCoimisinéir Teanga mar atá i láthair na huaire. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach go mbeadh an Coimisinéir Teanga lonnaithe ins an áit ina bhfuil sé anois, go mbeadh a fhoireann lonnaithe ansin chomh maith agus nach mbeadh aon athruithe ar mhodh imeachta nó ar mhodh oibre an Choimisinéara Teanga thar mar atá.
Tá go leor seirbhísí a bheadh siad ábalta a chur ar fáil lena chéile, poiblíocht agus rudaí mar sin. Beidh córas níos éifeachtaí riaracháin ag an dá oifig de bharr an chónascaidh, ach níl sé ag dul a chur isteach ar obair nó ar imeacht laethúil an choimisinéara. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtuigfí é sin.
Ceann des na fadhbanna atá ann maidir le hoifigí Stáit, nach mbíonn Gaeilge ag an chéad duine a labhraíonn leat nuair a chuireann tú glaoch orthu. Má déantar an cónascadh seo, an cinnte go mbeidh Gaeilge ag na daoine a bheas ag déileáil leis an bpobal sa dá oifig, seachas duine ag fanacht ar an nguthán go dtiocfaidh duine le Gaeilge chun labhairt leis, más féidir teacht air?
Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh gach Roinn Stáit ábalta freagra a thabhairt más i nGaeilge a chuireann duine den phobal glaoch air. Feicim féin feabhas, fiú amháin ag leibhéal na gcomhairlí contaetha i láthair na huaire. Nuair a chuirim glaoch bíonn an fháilte i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla go minic. Sílim gur dul chun cinn é sin. Nuair a chuireann gnáth shaoránach glaoch ar oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga bheinn ag súil go mbíonn fáilte roimhe agus freagra aige i nGaeilge. Ní fheicim go mbeidh athrú ar bith air sin. Leanfaidh nós imeachta agus modh oibre an choimisinéara mar atá.
